Grossman prepping for nationals
SLIPPERY ROCK — It’s no surprise Moniteau graduate Kendall Grossman decided to get into the pole vault.
She’s been surrounded by the event most of her life.
“My father, uncle, grandfather ... They were all pole vaulters,” Grossman said. “My younger brother is a pole vaulter at Moniteau now. I’ve been doing it since I was 12 years old.”
Now a senior pole vaulter at Slippery Rock University, Grossman’s dedication to the event has been rewarded. She is one of 16 qualifiers nationwide for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend at Pittsburg State University in Kansas. She will compete at 4:25 p.m. on Friday.
A two-time PSAC champion, Grossman earned her berth at nationals by vaulting a career-best 13 feet, 0.25 inches at the PSAC Championships on Feb. 18 at Lehigh University. Her personal-best vault outdoors is 12 feet, 7 inches.
“I’m proud of her and I’m excited for her,” SRU track and field coach Bill Jordan said of Grossman. “Kendall has been working toward this. She’s continually improved on the physical, mental and technique side of this event.
“Pole vaulting is so difficult. You have to be able to run fast, jump at full speed, become a bit of a gymnast when you reach the pole, and it becomes mentally taxing trying to clear that pole while being so high in the air. Kendall embodies all of those things.”
Grossman narrowly missed qualifying for nationals last year. Her clearance of 3.97 meters at the PSAC Championships is tied for 14th best in Division II this season. The NCAA used that mark as the cutoff for the event.
The top seed is Division II record holder Brynn King of Roberts Wesleyan at 4.61 meters.
“I’m not treating this as a pressure point for me,” Grossman said of nationals. “I’m excited to be going out there and compete with the best of the best in Division II. I’ll just do my best and see what happens.”
Jordan has similar confidence in Grossman, who is the lone SRU indoor track and field athlete headed to nationals.
“She’ll be just fine,” the coach said. “Kendall is not the type of person to be overwhelmed by a meet like this. She’ll stay focused and I’m sure I’m going to see the same Kendall Grossman vaulting I’ve seen all year.
“I have a lot of good vaulters here. Kendall sets the pace. She leads this group. Besides pole vault practice two days a week, they do work on the high bars, rings, rope, the aerobic stuff required to excel in this event. You have to be dedicated to it and Kendall is all in.”
Grossman is one of only four PSAC female athletes accepted into the national meet this year. The others are Leah Graybill of Shippensburg in the 200 meters, Beyonc’e Kelly of California in the high jump and Natasha Bennett of Seton Hill in the pentathlon.
A petroleum and natural gas major, Grossman graduates from SRU in May.
“I’m hoping to get another personal record during outdoor season as well,” she said. “Just finish strong.
“I’m sure I’ll stay involved in the pole vault in some way (after college), maybe become an official, go back to Moniteau and help coach my brother (Ashton) and the other pole vaulters there ... Pole vaulting’s been too big a part of my life for me to totally leave it.”
